Vince Papale remembers a lot of things about his first Eagles training camp at Widener College in 1976 under new head coach Dick Vermeil.

“We stayed in dorm rooms right by the end of the field,” said Papale. “What I remember most is that there was no air conditioning. No. 2 is that my roommate snored.

“We had common bathrooms and they would pull the fire alarm to wake us up in the morning.”

Papale, whose improbable three-year NFL career was the basis for the 2006 film “Invincible,” also recalled the long walk from the locker room to the practice field, where much of the interaction with fans took place.

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“We had helmet carriers and kids who would carry our shoulder pads,” he said. “There was no picking who would sign autographs on a given day. We all signed every day.”

At night, some players would gather to listen to Papale’s roommate, Denny Franks, play guitar in their room.

“During our second camp, (Vermeil) let us bring beer in because our meetings ran right up until curfew,” he said.

While Papale does not begrudge the Eagles’ decision to take the camp out of training camp and bring their summer workouts to the NovaCare Complex and Lincoln Financial Field, he said the move comes at a price.

“Even though I only lived a couple miles down the road, it was pretty neat to get away to camp and stay in a dorm instead of a hotel,” he said. “That’s where you got to know your teammates, their personalities and what and what it would be like being on the road together.

“It was also great for the fans. I understand the economics of it but it’s a shame for the people up in Lehigh whose jobs depended on it and for the people who scheduled their vacations around it.”

Another former Eagle, Brian Baldinger, said the training camp move was more about technology than money.

“There are no more overhead projectors and chalkboards,” said Baldinger, an NFL Network analyst who wrapped up his playing career with the Eagles in 1992 and 1993. “Whether it’s loading playbooks onto an iPad, the training and rehabilitation programs or, in the case of Chip Kelly, putting heart monitors on all the players, everything is dependent on technology. And whatever it is they need, it’s easier for the coaches and the trainers to access it at the NovaCare Complex.”

When Baldinger played under Rich Kotite, the Eagles held their training camp at West Chester University, the team’s summer home for 15 years before the move to Lehigh University in 1996.

“I definitely think there’s a trade-off,” he said. “Training camp is where teams come together and unite. There is a simplicity to life that allows you to concentrate on what you’re doing without any distractions. I think there’s a lot of value in that.”

When rookies and free agents report to Chip Kelly’s first NFL training camp Monday morning, it will mark the first time since 1943 that the Eagles have summered within the city limits. In addition to Lehigh, West Chester and Widener, the team trained at Albright College, Hersheypark Stadium, Grand Rapids, Minn., and Saranac Lake, N.Y., since the 1943 workouts at St. Joseph’s University.

The team’s last season in Lehigh was marred by the death of Garrett Reid, oldest son of coach Andy Reid, whose body was discovered in a dormitory. An autopsy determined the 29-year-old, who had a history of drug addiction, died of a heroin overdose.

This summer, players will stay in a hotel that is a short drive from Broad and Pattison.

Eagles President Don Smolenski said the team is working to make the Philadelphia camp as fan friendly as possible, starting with free admission and parking to the five Lincoln Financial Field sessions that begin July 28.

At a Thursday press conference, he said fans had already scooped up more than 200,000 tickets for the five dates at the Linc, including 49,000 for the first practice.

Both Baldinger and Papale are high on Kelly and looking forward to the up-tempo and unconventional workouts.

“I love the guy,” Papale said. “Change was inevitable and change was much needed. I think everyone benefitted from it, including Andy, who looks rejuvenated out in Kansas City. I feel close to this Eagles team already and I like the tempo aspect that the coaches are bringing.

“When (Vermeil) came in, the sweetest words I ever heard were from the veterans griping about how hard the practices were. ... The more they bitched, the harder I worked.”

Baldinger believes the Eagles can have success right away under Kelly and scoffed at comparisons to Steve Spurrier, who left the University of Florida to coach the Washington Redskins for two forgettable seasons.

“I played in college for Steve at Duke and did his first NFL game when I was at Fox,” Baldinger said. “I don’t want to take shots at Steve here but Chip Kelly is much more sophisticated than Steve ever was, much more adaptable than Steve ever was and I think he is smarter than Steve was.

“Steve’s whole philosophy was the passing game, which worked when the other team didn’t have the talent and couldn’t adapt to Florida’s game. When he didn’t have Drew Brees with the Redskins, it became difficult for him to compete every Sunday with Shane Matthews.

“I don’t think that’s the case with Chip Kelly.”

Baldinger thinks Kelly’s Eagles can win nine or 10 games in 2013.

“Maybe I’m looking at it with rose-colored glasses but I like the Eagles a lot,” he said. “What I like about Chip Kelly is that he will continue to expand or change or alter the approach when the John Foxes and Rex Ryans and Mike Zimmers of the world get a look at what he’s doing and start to get on top of it.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to - from Howie Long, whose son played for him, to other coaches to his present staff - they all say where this guy is going to excel is in his ability to continually adapt at a rapid rate ... I think they are going to surprise some people.”